Why Top PR Agencies Are Bracing for a Storm They Can’t Spin Away
CommPRO is set to host its next Communications Town Hall on April 24, led by Publisher Fay Shapiro and featuring an influential group of voices from across the public relations, corporate, and financial communications sectors. Designed as an open forum—not a webinar—the event will follow the Chatham House Rule, allowing for candid dialogue without attribution, and encouraging honest insight from professionals grappling with today’s economic uncertainty.
This high-impact conversation will center on the realities of leading and managing PR agencies through a turbulent economic landscape. Despite encouraging employment numbers and steady inflation, those metrics mask deeper volatility. Job reports often omit public sector layoffs, inflation is being tugged in opposite directions by recession fears and rising tariffs, and consumer spending spikes may be artificially inflated due to pre-tariff buying. Economists warn that while the data may not show it yet, we’re already in a recession—one that won’t be officially confirmed until two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth are reported. And historically, agency budgets are among the first casualties of discretionary spending cuts, even as in-house communications teams remain more insulated.
This town hall will examine those challenges head-on, asking how agencies can remain agile and innovative while maintaining trust, relevance, and profitability. Fay Shapiro will moderate a dynamic discussion featuring a powerhouse lineup of leaders who’ve appeared across CommPRO’s editorial coverage.
Bill Nielsen, Chairman of the Advisory Board at the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication, brings a legacy of ethical leadership to the conversation. Johna Burke, CEO and Global Managing Director of AMEC, offers deep expertise on communications measurement and performance. Alan Shimel, CEO of Techstrong and Futurum, bridges innovation with communications strategy in the tech space. Ben Finzel, President of RENEWPR, brings insight into purpose-driven agency work. Liz Aquilino, Senior Vice President at 360PR+, represents a model for mid-size agency resilience. David Wolf, CEO of Financial Media Network, will share his perspective on financial storytelling and investor relations. Art Stevens, Managing Partner at The Art Stevens Group and longtime host of the PR Masters Series Podcast, contributes decades of agency leadership wisdom. John Lovallo, Managing Director at Leider, and a trusted voice in investor communications, joins the panel alongside Simon Locke, CEO of CommunicationsMatch™, who has long advocated for agency-client alignment. Rounding out the discussion is Paul Kontonis, CMO-in-Residence at Fabric Media and a strategic advisor helping brands adapt in today’s fragmented media landscape.
The April 24 Communications Town Hall will invite active participation from attendees, not passive viewing. It’s a rare opportunity for industry professionals to openly share, challenge, and learn from one another as they confront the mixed messages and complex realities of today’s economy.
This is a conversation no agency leader can afford to miss.
